ESL Present Perfect Worksheets

The present perfect isn't a verb tense unique to English, but it can still be complicated for beginning ESL students to master. Though French, Italian, German, and Spanish use the present perfect to address past events, in English, the present perfect connects a past moment to the present moment in time. The present perfect is often used either to reference life experiences, to invoke recent past events that have influenced the present moment or to reference a span of time that began in the past and extends into the present.

The present perfect is one of the most difficult tenses to teach and to learn. Below is a quick review of the present perfect, followed by two worksheets designed to help ESL students practice their use of the verb tense.

Present Perfect Positive Form Review

Subject + have + past participle + objects

Examples:

Tom has lived in New York for 10 years.
We have studied French since 2003.

Present Perfect Negative Form

Subject + have not + past participle + objects

Examples:

She hasn't met Peter.
They haven't finished the job yet.

Present Perfect Question Form

(Question Word) + have + subject + past participle?

Read More

How to Teach the Present Perfect

By Kenneth Beare

Examples:

Has she worked here for a long time?
Where has she gone?

Important Note: Regular past participles in "-ed," irregular past participles of verbs vary and must be studied.

Yet / Just / Already

"Yet" is used in the present perfect negative and question forms.
"Just" is used in the present perfect positive form.
"Already" is used in the present perfect positive form.

Examples:

Have you finished the job yet?
She's just left for Chicago.
They've already eaten lunch.

Since / For

"Since" and "for" are common time expressions used with the present perfect tense. "Since" is used with specific dates. "For" is used with periods of time.

Examples:

Janet has worked at this company since 1997.
We've lived in this house for five years.

Present Perfect Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

1. How long ______ (he/live) in New Jersey?
2. Peter ______ (not play) baseball since 1987.
3. I ______ (speak) Russian for 20 years.
4. We _____ (not see) Tom since Christmas.
5. Has ________ (Alan/fly) in an airplane before?
6. Shannon _____ (not/go) to lunch yet.
7. Our class _____ (take) a field trip three times this year.
8. Where _____ (they/move) to?
9. Jennifer _____ (ask) that question four times today.
10. You _____ (not eat) lunch yet, have you?
11. Jason _____ (want) to move to New York since he was 5 years old.
12. How long _____ (they/know) Peter?
13. Alexandra _____ (work) for IBM since 2002.
14. Jeff _____ (buy) a few books this week.
15. Sally ______ (not read) that book yet.
16. _____ (they/leave) for work yet?
17. Bill _____ (not/drive) very far today.
18. We _____ (enjoy) eating seafood all of our lives.
19. _____ (he/watch) the documentary yet?
20. I _____ (not/finish) the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense.

1. They have lived in that house (since/for) 10 years.
2. She has (just/yet) gone to the bank.
3. Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston (yet/already)
4. We have worked at this company (since/for) 2008.
5. Jason hasn't telephoned me (since/for) two weeks.
6. How (long/much) have you known Susan?
7. They've (already/yet) studied the past simple tense.
8. Our mothers have (just/yet) left for the station.
9. The president has traveled to more than 20 countries (since/for) he was elected.
10. Thomas hasn't had time to read the book (just/yet).
11. Alice has told me she's (yet/already) been to that park.
12. My daughter's (just/since) finished her homework.
13. Have they (already/yet) spoken to Mr. Peters?
14. I've (just/for) interviewed the best candidate for the job.
15. Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team (already/yet).
16. Bob and Tim have (already/yet) decided where they are going on vacation.
17. Have you purchased a new computer (just/yet)?
18. Sam has wanted to go to Japan (for/since) he was a little child.
19. Jason hasn't worked here (since/for) very long.
20. Our boss has (just/yet) hired a new engineer.

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Present Perfect Worksheet 1 - Corrections

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

1. How long has he lived in New Jersey?
2. Peter hasn't played baseball since 1987.
3. I have spoken Russian for 20 years.
4. We haven't seen Tom since Christmas.
5. Has Alan flown in an airplane before?
6. Shannon hasn't gone to lunch yet.
7. Our class has taken a field trip three times this year.
8. Where have they moved to?
9. Jennifer has asked that question four times today.
10. You haven't eaten lunch yet, have you?
11. Jason has wanted to move to New York since he was 5 years old.
12. How long have they known Peter?
13. Alexandra has worked for IBM since 2002.
14. Jeff has bought a few books this week.
15. Sally hasn't read that book yet.
16. Have they left for work yet?
17. Bill hasn't driven very far today.
18. We have enjoyed eating seafood all of our lives.
19. Has he watched the documentary yet?
20. I haven't finished the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2 - Corrections

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense.

1. They have lived in that house for 10 years.
2. She has just gone to the bank.
3. Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston yet.
4. We have worked at this company since 2008.
5. Jason hasn't telephoned me for two weeks.
6. How long have you known Susan?
7. They've already studied the past simple tense.
8. Our mothers have just left for the station.
9. The President has traveled to more than 20 countries since he was elected.
10. Thomas hasn't had time to read the book yet.
11. Alice told me she's already been to that park.
12. My daughter's just finished her homework.
13. Have they already spoken to Mr. Peters?
14. I've just interviewed the best candidate for the job.
15. Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team yet.
16. Bob and Tim have already decided where they are going on vacation.
17. Have you purchased a new computer yet?
18. Sam has wanted to go to Japan since he was a little child.
19. Jason hasn't worked here for very long.
20. Our boss has just hired a new engineer.